Background
Daniel Edgar Sickles was born in New York City on October 20, 1825 to Susan Marsh Sickles and George Garrett Sickles, a patent lawyer and politician.
Sickles shoots Key in 1859
1888, Generals Carr, Sickles, and Graham stand by the Trostle Barn where Sickles was wounded
Sickles's leg, along with a cannonball similar to the one that shattered it, on display at the National Museum of Health and Medicine
The trial of Sickles. Engraving from Harper's.
General Sickles (center) with his staff, after the loss of his leg at Gettysburg
Sickles funeral in Manhattan on May 8, 1914
Sickles in 1902
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Diplomat politician Soldier statesman
Daniel Edgar Sickles was born in New York City on October 20, 1825 to Susan Marsh Sickles and George Garrett Sickles, a patent lawyer and politician.
Daniel learned the printer's trade, studied in the university of the City of New York (now New York University). He studied law in the office of Benjamin Butler.
Daniel Edgar Sickles was admitted to the bar in 1846, and was a member of the state Assembly in 1847. In 1853 he became corporation counsel of New York City, but resigned soon afterward to become secretary of the U. S. legation in London, under James Buchanan.
Daniel returned to America in 1855, was a member of the state Senate in 1856-1857, and from 1857 to 1861 was a Democratic representative in Congress. In 1859 he was tried on a charge of murder, having shot Philip Barton Key, U. S. attorney for the District of Columbia, whom Sickles had discovered to have a liaison with his wife; but was acquitted after a dramatic trial lasting twenty days.
At the outbreak of the Civil War Sickles was active in raising United States volunteers in New York, and was appointed colonel of a regiment. He became a brigadiergeneral of volunteers in September 1861, led a brigade of the Army of the Potomac with credit up to the battle of Antietam, and then succeeded to a divisional command. He took part with distinction in the battle of Fredericksburg, and in 1863 as a majorgeneral commanded the III army corps.
His energy and ability were conspicuous in the disastrous battle of Chancellorsvine; and at Gettysburg the part played by the III corps in the desperate fighting around the Peach Orchard was one of the most noteworthy incidents in the battle. Sickles himself lost a leg and his active military career came to an end. He was, however, employed to the end of the war, and in 1867 received the brevets of brigadier-general U. S. A. and major-general U. S. A. for his services at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg respectively. General Sickles was one of the few successful volunteer generals who served on either side.
Soon after the close of the Civil War he was sent on a confidential mission to Colombia to secure its compliance with a treaty agreement (of 1846) permitting the United States to convey troops across the Isthmus of Panama. In 1866-1867 he commanded the department of the Carolinas. In 1866 he was appointed colonel of the 42nd infantry (Veteran Reserve Corps), and in 1869 he was retired with the rank of major-general.
He was minister to Spain from 1869 to 1873, and took part in the negotiations growing out of the "Virginius Affair". General Sickles was president of the New York State Board of Civil Service Commissioners in 1888-1889, was sheriff of New York in 1890, and was again a representative in Congress in 1893-1895.
Sickles lived out the remainder of his life in New York City, dying on May 3, 1914 at the age of 94. His funeral was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on May 8, 1914. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Sickles received the Medal of Honor for his actions, although it took him 34 years to get it. The official citation accompanying his medal recorded that Sickles "displayed most conspicuous gallantry on the field, vigorously contesting the advance of the enemy and continuing to encourage his troops after being himself severely wounded."
Daniel had an important part in efforts to preserve the Gettysburg Battlefield, sponsoring legislation to form the Gettysburg National Military Park, buy up private lands, and erect monuments. He procured the original fencing used on East Cemetery Hill to mark the park's borders. This fencing came directly from Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.
On September 27, 1852, Sickles married Teresa Bagioli against the wishes of both families - he was 33, she about 15 or 16.
Following the death of Teresa in 1867, in 1871 he married Carmina Creagh, the daughter of Chevalier de Creagh of Madrid, a Spanish Councillor of State. They had two children.
